Chef Evan Hennessey: Winning the 2026 James Beard Award | Ep. 68

He wanted to be a Disney animator. Instead, Chef Evan Hennessey became the first chef in New Hampshire history to win the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast -- and this year, he opened his fourth venture in Dover. Carol sits down with Evan right at Stages at One Washington to talk about the whole arc -- from a dishwashing job with no career plan, to staging in some of the country's best kitchens, to building three completely different restaurant concepts and a culinary travel company, all without leaving his hometown. In this episode: • What it actually felt like to hear his name called on that James Beard stage • How he discovered his own foraged ingredient -- a rare "sea truffle" red algae • The full, very sweet story behind his daughter's cookies, served at the end of every tasting menu at Stages • A walkthrough of Stages, The Living Room, and his brand-new Mediterranean spot, Topolino • Why he started "Staging At Stages," a hands-on apprenticeship program for young chefs Stages at One Washington | 1 Washington St, Dover, NH | stages-dining.com Subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and like, comment, and share this episode. New episodes of Beyond the Plate with Carol drop every Tuesday. This episode is sponsored by Belmont Hall & Restaurant. Manchester, NH -- family-owned for over 90 years. belmonthall.net | Instagram: @belmonthallandcatering | Facebook: @belmonthallandcatering ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL Carol Erickson brings nearly 40 years of hospitality experience as the longtime owner of the Red Arrow Diner to Beyond the Plate with Carol, a New Hampshire-based podcast covering food, restaurants, and hospitality all across New England. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond. Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH Follow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24